Method of and machine for treating shoes



April 23, 1940. A. c. SMITH ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TREATING SHOES Filed Dec. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 23, 1940. A. c. SMITH ET AL METHOD OF AND MAGHINEFOR TREATING SHOES Filed Dec; 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 g UNITED sfrATEs AND MACHINE FORTE-EATING r SHOES; .1

METHOD or "This invention relatesto methods of and ma chines fortreating shoes to improve their ap pearance and. particularly to methods of and machines for treating the throat portions of shoes including, when they are present, the

tongues and eyelet flies. i i

When shoes, for example Oxford shoes; have i been substantially completed, for" example when they have reached the packing room, it isfoften found that the "tongues'of the shoes are more or less wrinkled and that the eyelet iiiesare' widelyseparated *from each other so thatthe shoes present an unattractive appearance. The wrinkles in the tongue are generally dueto the pressure of the lacing'thread used. to hold the eyelet" flies together during the lasting operation, this lacing thread having been cutand 1'8". v moved before the shoes reach the packing'room. Objects of this invention are to givesho'e's a more presentable appearance by smoothing and I shaping the tongues-to remove" wrinkles therefrom and by pressing the eyelet flies toward each other into the position they assume when laced.

In one aspect, 'the invention contemplates a' novel method .of smoothing and shaioing'the" tongues which comprises'supporting the 'ins'tep portion and the tongue portion of a shoe on" a form with'a thin plate positionedbetween the tongue portion and the eyelet flies of the'shoe and applying pressure to the portionof the shoe which overlies the thin plate sofas to pressithe eyelet flies of the shoe against'the-plate and cause-the tongue portion of; the shoe tobe pressed between the plate and the form. In order to expedite the shaping of the tongue by this method, heat may be applied thereto in any suitable manner.

- The illustrated embodiment of the machine .comprises to form to receive the inner face of the shoe tongue, 2. metal plate conforming to the form and adaptedto bexdisposed against the outer face ofthe shoe tongue, and pressing members operated'from the twosides ofthe form and adapted to pressthe eyelet flies of theshoe against the plate and-the plate against thetongue on the form. Thus the'shoe tongue is pressed between two shaping surfaces which smooth and iron the tongue. to remove wrinkles therefrom and the eyelet flies are pressed into proper relation to the tongue. Preferably both the form and the presser members are heated to improve In the drawings,- f l Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a-machine em-' 551; loci-lying the present: invention; F

and expedite the action of the shaping devices;

F g. 2 is a transverse section of'a shoe and the operating instrumentalities of the machine takenwhile the latter areinpperating position?" Fig. 3 is a wiringdiagram of the electrical apparatus for heating the form and presser members; v I "Fig; 4 'is'af perspective view of'a; portion of a shdeupper prior to the smoothing of theitongue; andl 1 -"Figflfiisa's'i"i1ar.view of the shoe after the tongue been smoothed the present invention. I.

Theillustrat ed machine for shapingunderheat i and pressurethe'throat and instep portions of shoes comprises a frame [0 adapted to be 'place'don a bench and. secured thereto-by screws passing through flanges l2 at-each side-of the frame.

Projecting forwardly from theiframe l 0 is a for ltwhich isilong en'oughto' receive thei-tongu'e' portion of 'a shoe; for example an Oxford "shoe,-

and has-an upwardly convex surface correspond ing to the instep' portion of afoot or last; that is, the shape which should be imparted to the in. accordance with y inner face of the tongue toienable it to fit the footof -the' wearerg The form mayfof course,

be given1various shapes to meet conditions dic tated by the style and size of the-shoes to be treatedand is-shown in the formof' a semi-chip soidpthe cross-section, as shownin Fig. 2, being an ellipse divided on its minor axis-which is horizontal", overlying theform' Mis aplate l6 which may b'eo'f bronze orsome other resilient material which is a good conductor ofilieat; The plate conforms in shapeto :tli'e convexsurface of the form 11 5'. and at itsrear enid is securedto the form by a suitable means such as screws j- H.

These screws may beleft loose. as shown, to'facilitate thei'insertion' of a" shoe tongue under the plate is orthe plate may be offset slightly adjacent tothe screws for the same: purpose. Journaled inftheframelll are two' parallel shafts l8 and 20 which extendlongitudinally ofthe form.

14 and are located belo-w'theform and at each side thereof. l ixed to the forward end, of the shaft l fii's an arm Bland a, similar arm M is fixed to the forward end ofjthe shaft 20. A presser.

member 26 is' pivoted at 28 to. the'arm 22 for limited movement and has, a pressing :face 30 which is complemental toone longitudinal half of the' pressing surface of v.the form M. The

presser member 26 is maintained with its con-4 toured surface 30 directeditoward the form it by v a spring 32 connected atone end to a downward 'ly depending ear" 34 onthe' presser member 26 and at "the other" endto the arm 22 near its axis,:

the spring serving yieldingly to hold the presser member 26 with its face 36 in position to engage the form I 4, or rather the plate I6 upon the form, as the member is swung toward it. A similar pressing member 36 is pivoted to the arm 24 and a spring 38 similar to the spring 32 is provided to maintain the contoured face 46 of the presser member 36 directed toward the form I4. p

The rear end of the shaft I8 has fixed thereto an arm 42 and fixed to the rear end of the shaft is a lever having arms 43, 44, the arm 44 being equal in length to the arm 42 and connected to the arm 42 by a link 46. The arm 44 projects upwardly and the arm 42 downwardly with reference to their respective shafts 29 and I8 and the arms are inclined equally from the vertical so that, when one shaft is rotated, the other shaft willbe rotated equally in the opposite direction and hence the arms 22 and 24 will move equally and oppositely toward the form I4 and will simultaneously bring the contoured faces and 4B of the presser members into. pressing engagement with the work on. the form I4. When this occurs the arms 42 and 44 and the link 46 are so arranged that the arms- 42 and 44 will'be parallel to each other and will extend in opposite directions from their respective shafts I8 and 26. i To operate the presser-members 26 and 36, the lever arm 43 which projects downwardly from the shaft 26 is provided with a roll 48 which is engaged by a cam 50 fixed on a horizontal shaft 52. Theshaft52 is provided with an arm 54 fixed thereon which is connected by a rod 56 to an arm 58 on a rockshaft 60 which is mounted to turn in bearings 62, 64 fastened to the floor. The front-end of the rockshaft 60 is provided with two treadles 66, 68,. one projecting from each side of the shaft 60. Depression of the treadle 66 will turn the rockshaft 60 in a direc tion to swing the cam 50' toward the roll 48 of the arm 43 to turn the shaft 26 in a direction toswing the presser member 36 toward the form I4 and at the same time the link 46 will cause the shaft l8 to turn in the oppositedirection and swing the presser member 26 toward the form I4. 1 t -1 i The portion I0 of the cam 50 which engages the roll 48 during the latter-part of the depression of the treadle 66 is substantially concentric with the shaft 52and accordingly the cam isself-locking to hold the parts in pressing position when the treadle is released. To relieve the pressure, of course, it is only necessary to depress the treadle 68 to turn the rockshaft 60 in the opposite direction and release the cam50.

' When a shoe such as'that shown in Fig. 4 is presented to the machine the wrinkled tongue portion T will lie between the form l4 and the plate" I6 and the eyelet flies F will be spread apart as indicated in that figure. As the presser members 26, 36 close upon the upper, the eyelet flies F will be swung toward each other by the presser members 26, 36 which will press the flies against the plate I6 and, through the plate IE, will apply pressure. to the tongue on the form I4, as indicated in Fig. 2, and, since the form I4 and presser members 26, 36 are preferably heated, the shoe, after remaining under pressure for a short time, will have when removed from the each other and set in the position which they will assume when the shoe is laced.

It will be seen (Fig. 2) that the parallel shafts I8, 20' are located below the form I4 and are spaced laterally therefrom so that as the arms 22, 24, carrying the presser members 26, 36, swing toward the form the presser members approach the form with a component of downward movement. The presser members therefore '-apply a substantially even pressure to the top unit 14. These units are wired to receive current from a source of supply I6 in accordance with the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3, the flow of current to the unit I2 in the form being controlled by a rheostat I6 and the current to the units 14, I4 in the presser members which are connected in multiple being controlled by a rheostat 86' The-connections to the source of current, as shown in the diagram, are made in a junction box 82 mounted on the frame I0 and a telltale or pilot light 84 is mounted on-the box to indicate when a switch 86 is closed. While 'the foregoing describes one form of machine by means of which the invention may be carried out .it should be understood that the invention may be practisedv without the use. of a machine. Thus, after the: shoe'has been placed on a form and a thin plate inserted between the tongue and the eyelet flies of the shoe, pressure may be appliedmanually to the eyelet flies, thus Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: Y i

1. In a machine for treating parts of shoes, a member for supporting the instep portion of a shoe and the tongue portion, a metal plate for engagement with the opposite surface of the tongue portion, a block cooperating with said work-supporting surface of the form for acting directlyupon a portion of a shoe supported on the form, a movable support upon which said presser member is pivotally mounted, a spring for holding said presser. member in predetermined position upon the movable support, and

means for moving said support to bring the presser member into pressing cooperation with a portion of the work which ,is supported on the form. 1

3. In a machine for treating shoes, a member for supporting the instep portion of a shoe, a

metal plate arranged for insertion between the tongue portion of a shoe supported by the member and the eyelet flies of that shoe, separate presser. blocks engageable with the eyelet flies overlying the metal plate, and means for causing relative movement of the member and the" presser blocks to press the shoe parts between the member and the plate and between the plate and the. presser blocks. v

4. In a machine for treating shoes, a form having approximately the shape of the instep portionof a last, a metal platelconformingto the shape of the form, and separate presser blocks movable toward the form from opposite sides thereof to pressshoe parts placed between the form and the plate'and between the plate and presser blocks. I 1

5. In a machine for treating shoes to give them their proper shape and remove wrinkles there-.

from, aform having a shape to be imparted to the inner surface of a shoe tongue, a plate overlying the form and conforming to the shape thereof, the form and plate-being adapted to receive a shoe tongue between them, and presser blocks movable toward the form from each side thereof and arranged to press the eyelet flies of a shoe upper against the plateand the plate against the form, 1

6. In a machine for treating theinstep portions of shoe uppers, a curved form to receive the tongue portiono-f an upper, a thin plate associated with the form and shaped complementally thereto, a presser member having a curved surface substantially, complemental to the surface of the plate, a movable support for said presser member, a pivotal connection between said support and said member; a'spring to maintain the presser member in predetermined relation to the movable support, and means for effectin movement of said support to press the tongue portion of the shoe between the plate and the form and another portion of the shoe between the presser member and the plate.

- 7. In a machine *for treating shoes to give them their-proper shape and remove wrinkles therefrom, a form for-supporting" the instep portion of a shoe, athin metal plate in overlying spaced relation tosaid form adaptedto be inserted betweenthe tongue'of a shoe-supported by the form and the eyelet fliesof that shoe, pressingmeans engageable with the eyelet flies overlying the thin metal plate, and means for causing relative movement of the form and the pressing means to press the tongue between. the form and the plate and theeyelet flies between the plate and the pressing means.

8. In a machine for treatingshoes, a form having substantially the'shape of the i'nstep portion of the last, a metal plate conforming to the shape of the forin,*separate presser blocks .movable toward and from opposite sides thereof 1 to press shoeparts placed betweenthe form and the plate and between-the plate and presser blocks, and means for heating thepresser blocks. 9. In al'maohine fortreating-shoes, a form to support the tongue of a shoe, a metal plate overlying the tongue and transversely curved to tongue shape, and separate presser blocks movable toward the form from opposite sides thereof to press a tongue placed between the form and the plate and to press eyelet flies placed between the plate and the presser blocks.

10. In a machine for treating shoes to give.

them their proper shape and remove wrinkles therefrom, a form having a shape corresponding to the inn 1' surface of a shoe tongue, 21* plate overlying the form and conforming to the shape thereof, the form and plate being adapted'to receive a shoe tongue'between them, a pair of presserblocks each movable toward the form from one side thereof, and means for operating said presser blocks to press the eyelet flies of a shoe against the plate and to press the plate against the form to shape the tongue.

11. In a machine for treating shoes, a form having {substantiallythe shape of the instep portion of a last, a metal plate conforming to: Y

the shape of ,theform, separate presser blocksm ovable toward and from opposite sides-thereof to, press. "shoe parts placed between the form and the plateand between the plate and presser blocks and means for heating the presser blocks andthe form.. v i H 12. In,- axmachine for treating shoes to give them theirproper shape and remove wrinkles therefrom, an elongated form having the shape port the tongue portion of a shoe, a thin metal.

plate shaped to conform to the form, the plate and formbeing adaptedto receive a shoe tongue between them, presser .memberseach comp1emen-- tal to a longitudinal half of the form, and means; for relatively moving the presser; members and the form to press the eyelet flies of the shoe upon the. plate and to press the plate against the tongue upon the form,

eyelet flies of ashoeya form to receivethe tongue, a thin metal plate overlying the tongue and shaped to conform to the form, presser members each complementalto a longitudinal half'of the form, and arms carrying the presser members, each of said arms being mounted o-n an' axis extending longitudinally of the. form and located below and at one si'deajof the form whereby the presserblocks have a co'mponentof movement heightwise of the form to press the eyelet flies of theshoe upon the plate and the plate against the tongue of the form. I

15. In machine for treating the tongue and eyelet flies of a 'shoe,1a form to receive the tongue, a thin metal plate overlying the form and shaped to conform to the form, presser members. each complemental to a longitudinal half of the form ar'mS carrying the presser members and arranged in downwardly diverging re-' lation with respect'to the form, said arms being each mounted at its lowerend upon an axis extending longitudinally, of the form, and manually operated means for moving the arms equally and oppositely-to move the blocks toward'the formwith a component of movement heightwise of the-form,

16. In amaohine for treating the instep portions oflsh'oe uppers, a form having-a surface of revolution to receive thetongue portion of an shaped to conform thereto, presser members each complemental to a longitudinal half'of the work-engaging surface of the form, arms mounted on axes parallel to the, longitudinal axis of the form and locatedbelowthe'form, pivotal 30; 1e. Inja machine for treating thetongue and v 60 Oxford shoe, a thin plate overlying the form and connections between the arms and presser mem .bers, springs to maintain the presser members with their form-engaging faces directed toward the form, and manually "operated means for turningv the shafts equally and .oppositelyto move the presser blocks toward the form from each side thereof to 'press'the eyelet fliesof the shoe upon the plate and the plate against the tongue upon the form. 1

\ 17. In a machine for treating the instep portionsiof shoe uppers, an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion of the shoe, .a thin plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thertogpresser members which together have surfaces complemental to the form, shafts parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the form located below and spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shafts carrying said presser members, a second arm on each of said shafts, a link connecting the arms, and manually operated means for turning one of the shafts to move thepresser members toward the form tojpress the flies of the shoe upon the plate'andrthe plate against the tongue upon the form. L

I 18. In a machine for treating the instep portion of shoe uppers, an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion of a shoe, a thin plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thereto, presser members each having a face complemental to a longitudinal half of the convex surface of the .form,'shafts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form located below and spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shafts carrying said presser members, a second arm on each of said shafts, a link connecting said arms, the arrangement being such that rotation of one shaft will turn the other shaft equally and oppositely, and means for turning one of the shafts. 'r

'19. In a machine for treatingthe instep portions of shoe uppers, an upwardly-convex form to receive the tongue portion of the shoe, a thin plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thereto, presser members which together have surfaces complemental to the form, shafts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form located below and'spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shafts, pivotal connections between the arms and presser membersyspringsto maintain the presser members with their form-engagingfaces directed toward the form, a second arm on each of said shafts, a link connecting said arms, and manually operated means-for turning one of the shafts to move the presser members toward the form to press the flies of the shoe upon the plate and the plate against the tongue upon the form.

20. In a machine for treating the instep portion of shoe uppers, an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion of a shoe, a thin plate laterally of the form, arms on said shafts,pivotal' connections between the arms and the presser members, means for yieldingly maintaining the presser members with their faces directed towardthe form, a second arm on each of said shafts, a

link connecting said arms, the arrangement being such that rotation of one shaft will turn the other shaft equally and oppositely, andmeans for turning one of the shafts.

21. Ina machine for treating the instep por tions of shoe uppers; an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion-of the shoe, a thin plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thereto, presser members which together have surfaces complemental to the form, shafts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form located below" and spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shafts, pivotal connections between the arms and presser members, springs to maintain the presser'memberswiththeir form-engaging faces directed toward theform, a second arm on each of said'shafts, a link connecting the arms, and 'a manually operated cam for turning one of the shafts to move the presser members toward the form to press the flies of the shoe upon the plate and the plate against the tongue upon the form.

22. In a machine for treating the instep portionof shoeuppers, an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion of a shoe, a thin plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thereto,- presser members each having a face complemental to a longitudinal half of the convex surface of the form, shafts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form. located below and spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shaft, pivotal connections'between the arms and the presser members,- means for yieldingly maintaining the presser members with their faces directed toward the form, a second arm on each of said shafts, a link connecting said arms, a projection on one shaft, anda cam for engaging the projection to turn one'of the shafts.

23. Ina machine for treating the instep portion of shoe uppers, an upwardly convex form to receive the tongue portion of a shoe, a thin,

plate overlying the form and shaped to conform thereto, presser members each] having a face complemental to a longitudinal half of the convex surface ,of the form, shafts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form located below and spaced laterally of the form, arms on said shafts, connections between the arms'and the presser members, a second arm on each of said shafts, a link connecting said arms so that rotation of one shaft will turn the otherequally and oppositely, a projectionon one of the shafts, a cam having a concentric portion arranged for rotation to ,engage'said projection and to be selflocking when the presser members are in pressing position, and means for rotating'the cam in either direction. I q

24. A method of treating partsof shoes which comprises'supporting the instep portion and the tongue portion of a shoe on a form, causing a thin plate to 'be positioned between the tongue portion and the eyelet flies of the shoe, and ap-. plying pressure to the portion of the shoe overlying said thin plate so as to press the eyelet flies of the shoe against the plate and jcause the tongue portion of the shoe to be pressed between the plate and the form.

-25. A method of treating parts of shoes which comprises supporting the instep portion and the tongue portion of a shoe on a form, causing a metal plate to be positioned between the tongue portion and the eyelet flies of the shoe, applying pressure to the portion of the shoe overlying said metal plate so as to press the eyelet flies of the shoe against the plate and cause the tongue of the shoe to be pressed between the plate and the form and simultaneously applying heat to the portions of the shoe undergoing treatment.

ARCHIBALD 0. SMITH. RALPH I-I. WELLER. 

